Gonzaga’s long-standing supremacy in the West Coast Conference Tournament has been a recurring source of frustration for Saint Mary’s, often witnessing their adversary celebrate victory at their expense.
However, Tuesday night marked a significant departure from this trend.
No. 21 Saint Mary’s took control of the WCC championship game almost from the outset, securing a 69-60 win over No. 17 Gonzaga propelled by Aidan Mahaney’s 23 points and Mitchell Saxen’s impressive 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Gonzaga, boasting four consecutive WCC championships and 10 out of 11 overall, with the Gaels’ 2019 triumph being the sole exception, succumbed to the Gaels this time. Despite the loss, Gonzaga (25-7) and Saint Mary’s (26-7) were already assured of spots in the NCAA Tournament before tipoff.
“We beat a good team, a program we’ve got a ton of respect for,” remarked Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett. “They’ve helped us become the program that we are because we were punching up there for a long time and trying to do what they were doing and be as good as they were.”
The sharpshooting prowess of Mahaney played a pivotal role in Saint Mary’s victory, connecting on 9 of 15 shots, including 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. Saxen, despite grappling with foul trouble, managed a double-double.
Anton Watson led the Zags with 18 points, while Ryan Nembhard contributed 13 points and 11 assists. Despite a valiant effort, Graham Ike’s impact was limited due to foul trouble.
The contest remained tightly contested throughout, with Saint Mary’s maintaining a lead for much of the game. Although Gonzaga briefly seized the lead in the second half, Saint Mary’s swiftly responded with a decisive surge.
The victory not only extended Saint Mary’s impressive streak, winning 23 of their last 25 games, but also halted Gonzaga’s nine-game winning streak. This remarkable turnaround comes after Saint Mary’s endured a challenging start to the season, highlighting their resilience and unwavering belief.
Moreover, Saint Mary’s briefly disrupted Gonzaga’s dominance in their head-to-head encounters, with the Bulldogs previously winning 26 of the last 32 matchups and clinching three out of the previous four WCC championship games against Saint Mary’s.
